spec SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2012 Service Manual

3-31OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
How the ABS WorksA computer continuously monitors wheel
speed. The computer compares the
changes in wheel speed when braking. If
the wheels slow suddenly, indicating a
skidding situation, the computer will
change braking pressure several times
each second to prevent the wheels from
locking. When you start your vehicle or
when you accelerate after a hard stop, you
may hear a momentary motor or clicking
sound as the system resets or checks
itself.
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®)
ESP
® is a registered trademark of Daimler
AG.
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)
helps to control the vehicle during corner-
ing if front wheels or rear wheels skid. It
also assists you in maintaining traction
while accelerating on loose or slippery
road surfaces. It does this by regulating the
engine’s output, and by selectively apply-
ing the brakes. In addition, ESP
® helps to
avoid skidding by controlling braking pres-
sure.The ESP
® has the following three systems:
Stability Control SystemThe vehicle stability control system helps
provide integrated control of systems such
as anti-lock brakes, traction control, engine
control, etc. This system automatically
controls the brakes and engine to help pre-
vent the vehicle from skidding when cor-
nering on a slippery road surface or when
turning the steering wheel abruptly.Traction Control SystemThe traction control system automatically
helps prevent the spinning of wheels when
the vehicle is started or accelerated on
slippery road surfaces. The system oper-
ates only if it senses that some of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, the system
operates the front or rear brakes and
reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
NOTE:
You may hear a clicking sound in the
engine compartment for a few seconds
when you start the engine or just after the
vehicle begins to move. This means that
the above systems are in the self-check
mode. This sound does not indicate a mal-
function.
WARNING
The ABS may not work properly if
tires or wheels other than those
specified in the owner’s manual are
used. This is because the ABS works
by comparing changes in wheel
speed. When replacing tires or
wheels, use only the size and type
specified in this owner’s manual.
WARNING
The ESP
® cannot enhance the vehi-
cle’s driving stability in all situations
and does not control your vehicle’s
entire braking system. The ESP
® can-
not prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed
in turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe
and attentive driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ESP
®-
equipped vehicle must never be used
as a substitute for careful driving.

3-32
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)ABS will help you avoid skidding by elec-
tronically controlling braking pressure. It
will also help you maintain steering control
when braking on slippery surfaces or when
braking hard. The ABS works automati-
cally, so you do not have to use any special
braking technique. Just push the brake
pedal down without pumping. The ABS will
operate whenever it senses that wheels
are locking up. You may feel the brake
pedal pulsate while the ABS is operating.
(For more information on ABS, see “Brak-
ing” in the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE”
section.)
NOTE:
If the ABS system is activated, you may
hear a clunking noise and/or feel pulsating
in the brake pedal. This is normal and indi-
cates that the brake fluid pressure is being
controlled properly.The ESP
® indicator lights are described
below:
SLIP Indicator Light
79K019
The SLIP indicator light in the instrument
cluster blinks 5 times per second when one
of the following systems is activated.
 Stability control system
 Traction control system
 Hill descent control system (if equipped)
NOTE:
When the SLIP indicator light comes on
and stays on while driving, indicating a
malfunction of the ESP
® systems (other
than ABS), the brake system will function
as an ordinary ABS with no additional
ESP
® functions.
WARNING
 The ESP
® may not work properly if
tires or wheels other than those
specified in the Owner’s Manual are
used. When replacing tires or
wheels, use only the size and type
specified in this Owner’s Manual.
 The ESP® may not work properly if
tires are not inflated to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure.
 The ESP® may not work properly if
tires are fitted with tire chains.
 The ESP® may not work properly if
the tires are excessively worn. Be
sure to replace tires when the tread
wear indicators in the grooves
appear on the tread surface.
 The ESP® is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
WARNING
 The ESP
® may not work properly if
engine related parts such as the
muffler are not equivalent to stan-
dard equipment or are extremely
deteriorated.
 Do not modify the vehicle’s sus-
pension since the ESP
® may not
operate correctly.
CAUTION
If the SLIP indicator light comes on
and stays on while driving, there may
be a malfunction of the ESP
® sys-
tems (other than ABS). You should
have the systems inspected by an
authorized SUZUKI dealer.

3-33OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
NOTE:
When you disconnect and re-connect the
battery, ESP
® system functions other than
ABS will be deactivated and the slip indica-
tor light will blink 1 time per second. In this
case, use the following procedure to re-
activate the ESP
® systems:
1) Drive your vehicle straight ahead with-
out tire slippage at a speed greater than
approximately 15 km/h (9 mph) for a
few seconds
2) The slip indicator light will go out and
the ESP
® systems (other than ABS) will
be re-activated
It may take more than few seconds before
the slip indicator light goes out depending
on the road surface condition.
“ESP” Warning Light
66J031
When the ESP
® systems (other than ABS)
have a system malfunction, the “ESP”
warning light in the instrument cluster
comes on.
NOTE:
When the “ESP” warning light comes on,
or stays on while driving, indicating a mal-
function of the ESP
® systems (other than
ABS), the brake system will function as an
ordinary ABS that has no additional ESP
®
functions.
NOTE:
The information display shows the warning
and indicator message when this light
comes on.
“ESP OFF” Indicator Light
66J032
You should turn the ESP
® on during your
ordinary driving, so that you have the ben-
efits of all of the ESP
® systems.
It may be required to turn the ESP
® sys-
tems (other than ABS) off if your vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, or snow, or when driv-
ing in extreme off-road conditions where
wheel spin is necessary.
CAUTION
If the “ESP” warning light comes on,
or stays on while driving, there may
be a malfunction of the ESP
® sys-
tems (other than ABS). You should
have the systems inspected by an
authorized SUZUKI dealer.

3-36
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
NOTE:
You may hear a sound coming from the
engine when the hill descent control sys-
tem is activated. This sound is normal and
does not indicate a malfunction.Hill descent control Indicator Light
79K050
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, this light comes on briefly so
you can check that the light is working.
When you push the hill descent control
switch and the hill descent control operat-
ing conditions are fulfilled, the hill descent
control indicator comes on. If the hill
descent control indicator blinks, the hill
descent control will not be activated.
NOTE:
If the hill descent control indicator blinks
when you push the hill descent control
switch, following conditions may not be ful-
filled.
 The transfer switch is in the “4H LOCK”
or “4L LOCK” position
 The gearshift lever is in a forward gear
or reverse gear
 The vehicle speed is under 25 km/h (15
mph)
 The brake system is under normal oper-
ating temperatureNOTE:
If any of the following conditions occur,
there may be a problem with the hill
descent control system or the ESP
® sys-
tem. Have your vehicle inspected by an
authorized SUZUKI dealer.
 The hill descent control indicator does
not come on or blink when you push the
hill descent control switch.
 The hill descent control indicator stays
on when driving without pushing the hill
descent control switch.79K072
If the message shown in the above illustra-
tion appears on the information display,
there may be a problem with the hill
descent control system and the hill hold
control system. Have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer.
NOTE:
You cannot activate the hill descent control
system while this message is displayed.
CAUTION
 When the hill descent control sys-
tem is used continuously for a long
time, the temperature of the brake
system may increase and the hill
descent control system may be
deactivated temporarily to protect
the device of the brake system. The
hill descent control indicator blinks
to let you know the system is deac-
tivated. Depress the brake pedal
and stop the vehicle in a safe place.
When the temperature of the brake
system goes down, the hill descent
control indicator will come on and
the system is activated again.
 The hill descent control system
may be activated when the gear-
shift lever is in the “N” (Neutral)
position, but engine braking will
not work. Always use the hill
descent control system with the
gearshift lever in a forward gear or
reverse gear.

3-37OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
Hill hold control System
(if equipped)The hill hold control system is designed to
assist you in starting to move up steep or
slippery hills. When you start to move up a
hill, the system helps to prevent the vehicle
from rolling downward temporarily (for
approximately 2 seconds) while you move
your foot from the brake pedal to the accel-
erator pedal.
The hill hold control system activates for
approximately 2 seconds if your foot is
moved from the brake pedal when the fol-
lowing condition are all fulfilled.
1) The transfer switch is in a position other
than “N”.
2) The gearshift lever is in a forward gear
or reverse gear.
3) The parking brake is released.
NOTE:
You may hear a sound coming from the
engine when the hill hold control system is
activated. This sound is normal and does
not indicate a malfunction.
79K072
If the message shown in the above illustra-
tion appears on the information display,
there may be a problem with the hill
descent control system and the hill hold
control system. Have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer.
NOTE:
The hill hold control system will not acti-
vate while this message is displayed.
WARNING
 Do not rely excessively on the hill
hold control system. The hill hold
control system may not prevent the
vehicle from rolling downward on a
hill under all load or road condi-
tions. Always be prepared to
depress the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from rolling downward.
Failure to pay attention and
depress the brake pedal to hold the
vehicle on a hill when necessary,
may result in loss of control or an
accident.
 The hill hold control system is not
designed to stop the vehicle on a
hill.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
 After you release your foot from the
brake pedal, start the vehicle to
move up immediately. If you release
your foot from the brake pedal over
2 seconds, the hill hold control sys-
tem will be canceled. If so, the vehi-
cle may roll downward depends on
the degree of the slope which can
result in an accident. And, the
engine may stall and the power
assist for the steering and brakes
will not work so steering and brak-
ing will be much harder than usual
which can result in an accident or
vehicle damage.

3-39OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
The low tire pressure warning light can
come on due to normal causes such as
natural air leaks and pressure changes
caused by changes in temperature or
atmospheric pressure. Adjusting the air
pressure in the tires to the pressure shown
WARNING
The tire pressure monitoring system
is not a substitute for regular tire
pressure inspections. Check tire
inflation pressures monthly when
cold and set to the recommended
inflation pressure as specified on the
vehicle’s tire information placard and
in the owner’s manual. Refer to
“Tires” in the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section.
WARNING
If the low tire pressure warning light
does not come on when the ignition
is turned to the “ON” position, or
comes on and blinks while driving
there may be a problem with the tire
pressure monitoring system. Have
your vehicle inspected by an autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer. Even if the light
turns off after blinking, indicating
that the monitoring system has
recovered, make sure to have an
authorized SUZUKI dealer check the
system.
WARNING
The load rating of your tires is
reduced at lower inflation pressures.
If your tires become even moderately
under-inflated, the vehicle load may
exceed the load rating of the tires,
which can lead to tire failure. The low
tire pressure warning light will not
alert you of this condition. The warn-
ing light will only come on when one
or more of your tires become signifi-
cantly under-inflated. Check and
adjust your tire inflation pressure at
least once a month. Refer to “Tires”
in the “INSPECTION AND MAINTE-
NANCE” section.
WARNING
If the low tire pressure warning light
comes on and stays on, reduce your
speed and avoid abrupt steering and
braking. Stop in a safe place as soon
as possible and check your tires.
 If you have a flat tire, replace it with
the spare tire. Refer to “Jacking
Instructions” in the “EMERGENCY
SERVICE” section. Refer to
“Replacing Tires and/or Wheels”
for instructions on how to restore
normal operation of the tire pres-
sure monitoring system after you
have had a flat tire.
 If one or more of your tires is
under-inflated adjust the inflation
pressure in all of your tires to the
recommended inflation pressure as
soon as possible.
Be aware that driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire can cause
the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure, and may affect steering
control and brake effectiveness. This
could lead to an accident, resulting in
severe injury or death.

3-40
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
on the tire information placard should
cause the low tire pressure warning light to
turn off.
If the light turns on again shortly after
adjusting the pressure in your tires, you
may have a flat tire. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with the spare tire. Refer to
“Jacking Instructions” in the “EMER-
GENCY SERVICE” section. Refer to
“Replacing Tires and/or Wheels” for
instructions on how to restore normal oper-
ation of the tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem after you have had a flat tire.
NOTE:
 When the tire inflation pressure is
adjusted in high altitude areas, the low
tire pressure light may not turn off even
after tire inflation pressure adjustment.
In this case, adjust the inflation pressure
to a slightly higher pressure than is
shown on the tire information placard.
 The low tire pressure warning light may
turn off temporarily after coming on. This
could be due to surface temperature
increases after long distance driving or
traveling to a high temperature area.
Even if the tire pressure warning light
turns off after coming on, make sure to
check the inflation pressure of all tires.
 To reduce the chance that the low tire
pressure warning light will come on due
to normal changes in temperature and
atmospheric pressure, it is important to
check and adjust the tire pressureswhen the tires are cold. Tires that
appear to be at the specified pressure
when checked after driving, when the
tires are warm, could have pressure
below the specification when the tires
cool down. Also, tires that are inflated to
the specified pressure in a warm garage
may have pressure below the specifica-
tion when the vehicle is driven outside in
very cold temperature. If you adjust the
tire pressure in a garage that is warmer
than the outside temperature, you
should add 1 psi to the recommended
cold tire inflation pressure for every 10°F
difference between garage temperature
and outside temperature.
For tire inflation pressure information, refer
to “Tire Inflation Pressure” in the “INSPEC-
TION AND MAINTENANCE” section.
TPMS Malfunction Indicator
When you turn off the engine, however, the
malfunction indicator resets. It takes about
ten minutes after restarting the engine for
the malfunction to be detected again and
for the light to start flashing.
WARNING
Your vehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malfunction indicator to
indicate when the system is not oper-
ating properly.
WARNING
The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists.
WARNING
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be
able to detect or signal low tire pres-
sure as intended. TPMS malfunctions
may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the installation of replace-
ment or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale
after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that
the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to
function properly.

3-41OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
TPMS LimitationsThe tire pressure monitoring system may
not function properly under certain circum-
stances. In the following situations, the low
tire pressure warning light may come on
and remain on or may blink.
 When you replace a flat tire with the
spare tire.
 When you include the spare tire during a
tire rotation.
 When the TPMS sensor is damaged dur-
ing a tire replacement or liquid sealants
are used to repair a flat tire. When the TPMS sensor’s electronic sig-
nal is disturbed in one of the following
ways:
– Electric devices or facilities using simi-
lar radio wave frequencies are nearby.
– A lot of snow or ice covers the vehicle,
in particular, around the wheels or
wheel housings.
– Snow tires or tire chains are used.
 When you use non-genuine SUZUKI
wheels or tires.
Replacing Tires and/or WheelsIf you get a flat tire, Suzuki recommends
that you have an authorized SUZUKI
dealer mount a new tire on the wheel that
had the flat tire, and reinstall this tire on the
vehicle in place of the spare. The TPMS is
already set up to recognize the ID code of
the original wheel, and normal TPMS oper-
ation will be restored.
If you wish to operate your vehicle with the
spare tire installed, you must have an
authorized SUZUKI dealer set up the
TPMS to recognize the ID code of the
spare tire TPMS sensor.
If you need to replace any wheels on your
vehicle, your dealer must make sure that
TPMS sensors are installed in the new
wheels and must set up the TPMS to rec-
ognize the new sensors.
For Vehicles Sold in U.S.A.This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
1) This device may not cause harmful
interference.
2) This device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
NOTE:
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for com-
pliance could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.Traveling to CANADAPlease note that service for the tire pres-
sure monitoring system may not be avail-
able in CANADA should there be any
problems or malfunctions in the system.
CAUTION
 The tire pressure sensors can be
damaged by the installation or
removal of tires. When tires must
be repaired or replaced, we highly
recommend that you have them
repaired or replaced by an autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer.
 Do not use liquid sealants for a flat
tire as air pressure sensors can be
damaged.
 If the low tire pressure warning
light comes on frequently, there
may be something wrong with one
of the tires or with the monitoring
system. Have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer.
WARNING
Only use tires and wheels recom-
mended by SUZUKI as standard or
optional equipment for your vehicle.
Use of tires or wheels not recom-
mended by SUZUKI can result in
TPMS failure. Refer to “Tires” in the
“INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE”
section for additional information.

4-1DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
52D078S
Important Vehicle Design
Features To KnowMultipurpose vehicles such as your new
SUZUKI have higher ground clearance and
a narrower track than conventional pas-
senger cars, to make them capable of per-
forming in a wide variety of off-road
applications. Specific design characteris-
tics give them a higher center of gravity
than ordinary cars. An advantage of the
higher ground clearance is a better view of
the road allowing you to anticipate prob-
lems. They are not designed for cornering
at the same speed as conventional pas-
senger cars any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform satis-
factorily under off-road conditions. If at all
possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers. As with other vehicles of this
type, failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly may result in loss of control or vehi-
cle rollover.
Multipurpose vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types of
vehicles.
65D218
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a per-
son wearing a seat belt.Important Differences Between
Your Multipurpose Vehicle and
Ordinary Passenger CarsHigher Ground Clearance
The higher ground clearance of your vehi-
cle enables it to clear off-road obstacles,
such as rocks and tree stumps, that ordi-
nary passenger cars cannot drive over. An
unavoidable result of this higher ground
clearance is that the vehicle also has a
higher center of gravity. Consequently,
your vehicle will handle differently than a
vehicle with a lower center of gravity.
WARNING
 Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times.
Even though air bags are equipped
at the front seating positions, the
driver and all passengers should
be properly restrained at all times,
using the seat belts provided. Refer
to the “Seat Belts and Child
Restraint Systems” section for
instructions on proper use of the
seat belts.
 Never drive while under the influ-
ence of alcohol or other drugs.
Alcohol and drugs can seriously
impair your ability to drive safely,
greatly increasing the risk of injury
to yourself and others. You should
also avoid driving when you are
tired, sick, irritated or under stress.
WARNING
Your multipurpose vehicle has han-
dling characteristics that differ from
those of a conventional passenger
car. For the safety of you and your
passengers, please read the follow-
ing section very carefully.
EXAMPLE
Important Vehicle Design Features To Know: NO

4-2
DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
Shorter Wheelbase
Along with its higher ground clearance,
your vehicle has a shorter wheelbase and
shorter front and rear overhangs than
many passenger cars. These features
combine to allow you to drive your vehicle
over hillcrests without hanging up on them
or damaging the frame and chassis com-
ponents. The shorter wheelbase also
makes the steering of your vehicle more
responsive than that of vehicles with longer
wheelbases.
Narrower Body Width and Track
Your vehicle is narrower than the average
passenger car so that it can pass through
tight spaces.
Without the essential characteristics
described above: higher ground clearance,
shorter wheelbase and narrower body
width and track – your vehicle could not
provide you with excellent off road driving
performance. However, it is also true that
on-pavement driving, handling and steer-
ing will be different from what drivers expe-
rience with a conventional passenger car.
Break-In Catalytic Converter
54G236
The purpose of the catalytic converter is to
minimize the amount of harmful pollutants
in your vehicle’s exhaust. Use of leaded
fuel in vehicles equipped with catalytic
converters is prohibited by federal law,
because lead deactivates the pollutant-
reducing components of the catalyst sys-
tem.
The converter is designed to last the life of
the vehicle under normal usage and when
unleaded fuel is used. No special mainte-
nance is required on the converter. How-
ever, it is very important to keep the engine
properly tuned. Engine misfiring, which
can result from an improperly tuned
engine, may cause overheating of the cat-
alyst. This may result in permanent heat
damage to the catalyst and other vehicle
components.
CAUTION
The future performance and reliabil-
ity of the engine depends on the care
and restraint exercised during its
early life. It is especially important to
observe the following precautions
during the initial 960 km (600 miles)
of vehicle operation.
 After starting, do not race the
engine. Warm it up gradually.
 Avoid prolonged vehicle operation
at a constant speed. Moving parts
will break in better if you vary your
speed.
 Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid
full throttle starts.
 Avoid hard stopping, especially
during the first 320 km (200 miles)
of driving.
 Do not drive slowly with the trans-
mission in a high gear.
 Drive the vehicle at moderate
engine speeds.
 Do not tow a trailer during the first
960 km (600 miles) of vehicle oper-
ation.
EXAMPLE
Important Vehicle Design Features To Know: NO
On-Pavement Driving: NO